Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich announced that Darcell Graham will become the new director of Montgomery County Public Libraries
(MCPL).
Ms. Graham brings a wealth of leadership experience from her tenure at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, where she most recently served as interim president and CEO, managing one of Maryland’s largest and most diverse library systems. She will officially begin her duties in Montgomery County on Monday, Nov. 4
“We are excited to welcome Darcell Graham as the new director of Montgomery County Public Libraries,” said County Executive Elrich. “Darcell’s experience leading one of Maryland’s largest library systems and her dedication to advancing diversity and equity make her a perfect fit for our County. Libraries are at the heart of our community—they provide essential resources, promote lifelong learning and bring people together. I am confident that, under Darcell’s leadership, our libraries will continue to grow and serve our diverse community in new and meaningful ways.”
The MCPL director leads the Montgomery County Public Library system, which comprises 22 branches across the County—including the correctional facility—and boasts an extensive collection of more than two million items, including books, e-books, audiobooks, and other resources. In the past year, the library recorded a total circulation of 8,583,021 items, with adult materials accounting for 2,731,112, young adult materials totaling 325,295, and children’s materials reaching 5,450,383. Currently, there are 425,361 active users of the library, which also hosts more than 7,000 programs annually, attracting nearly 200,000 attendees.
“I am thrilled to join Montgomery County Public Libraries and look forward to working with the talented staff to continue enhancing library services for our diverse and growing community,” said Ms. Graham. “Libraries play a critical role in shaping the future, and I am eager to build on the strong foundation Montgomery County Public Libraries has established to expand our impact and reach.”
Ms. Graham holds a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Baltimore. She has also earned recognition for her contributions to the library field, including the William G. Baker, Jr. Award from Enoch Pratt Free Library, the Emerging Leader Award from the American Library Association, and even recently contributed to the 2024 MACo Summer Conference panel Building Stronger Communities Through Libraries.
